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UCAS…A parents’ guide

UCAS…A parents’ guide. Aims of this evening…. Choosing to go to university or not How the application system works. Choosing courses The application Personal statement Reference Offers Finance – what does it all mean? What next?. TO GO OR NOT TO GO. Arguments for ….

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UCAS…A parents’ guide

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  1. UCAS…A parents’ guide

  2. Aims of this evening…. Choosing to go to university or not How the application system works. Choosing courses The application Personal statement Reference Offers Finance – what does it all mean? What next?
  3. TO GO OR NOT TO GO
  4. Arguments for … Opportunity to study at a higher level Increase qualifications Necessary for many employment opportunities Increase life chances and employability in long term Develop specialised skills for future employment Increase potential earnings
  5. Increased earnings…
  6. Arguments against… There are good opportunities for employment without a degree, e.g. apprenticeships with professional qualifications. It is possible to study for a degree while working, as a part time student. The cost of a university education is very high – up to £50k debt. There are concerns over graduate unemployment.
  7. Our advice…. If you are taking A levels, you should CONSIDER university. If you decide NOT to make an application – that is OK – we can help with alternatives.
  8. UCAS?
  9. UCAS – what is it? Universities and Colleges Admissions Service www.ucas.co.uk As nearly all British higher education institutions are members of UCAS, all those wishing to study for undergraduate degrees in the UK must apply through UCAS. 500 Higher Education Institutions 50,000+ Undergraduate Courses
  10. Parents’ Section UCAS website…
  11. CHOOSING COURSES
  12. Choosing courses – the basics Unsure of subject – try Stamford Test on UCAS website You have 5 choices – no preferences Only 4 choices for medicine, dentistry and vet. You can choose more than one from a single university Consider different types of courses Must look at entrance requirements to help decide Visit the university – they all have open days (www.open-days.com) Use league tables to find ‘best courses’
  13. Different types of courses Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE): the first year of a degree course. Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE): two year, full-time DipHE courses are normally equivalent to the first two years of a degree. Higher National Diploma (HND): a two-year course, which, if completed with high grades, can lead to the third year of a degree. Foundation degree: the equivalent of the first two years of an honours degree, may be studied full- or part-time, and consist of academic study integrated with relevant work-based learning undertaken with an employer. Degree: a three- or four-year course where graduates obtain a bachelor's degree. There are different titles and levels of degree, such as:BA - Bachelor of Arts BSc - Bachelor of ScienceBEd - Bachelor of Education BEng - Bachelor of Engineering Joint courses:the two subjects are studied equally, 50/50 or Major/Minor: the time spent is usually 75%/25% Modular or Combined Courses: you can build a personalised course by choosing modules or units of study from different subject areas. Sandwich courses: Certain vocational courses include a year of working within the industry as part of the course
  14. Entrance requirements Two types of requirements: By grade: By tariff points: AAB-ABB ABBe CCC-CCD Points accepted: 160 - 240Minimum points required from qualifications with the volume and depth of A level or equivalent: 160  Contact universities directly – entry requirements changing all the time
  15. UCAS Tariff: 300 points = BBB/ABC A level AS level A* = 140 A = 120 A = 60 B = 100 B = 50 C = 80 C = 40 D = 60 D = 30 E = 40 E = 20 260 points = BCC/ABE 180 points = DDD/CDE
  16. League tables…. Guardian online The complete university guide Unistats
  17. APPLICATION FORM
  18. The application form… There are 5 sections for the STUDENT to complete on the application form: Personal details – ensure fee code is 02 Choices – no order of preference Employment Education – exam results (including AS results) ask mentor for printout of results Personal Statement
  19. Deferred entry This means that students apply for their courses for the following year. There is a box to tick for each course. If deferred entry has been selected, students should say why in their personal statement. If students take a gap year they should do something worthwhile during this time.
  20. The application form There are 2 sections for the REFEREE to complete on the application form: Predicted grades for pending qualifications (i.e. A levels) Reference
  21. PERSONAL STATEMENT
  22. Personal statement 4000 characters only 47 lines only ONE personal statement for all 5 choices – therefore 5 subject choices should be very similar.
  23. Personal statement Purpose: To convince the admissions tutors that you really want to study the subject. To show that you have the necessary knowledge, skills and qualities. To show that you will make a real contribution to their course. May need to write SEVERAL drafts.
  24. Personal statement support School produced booklets Sixth Form Mentor University prospectus and course information UCAS website Sample personal statements – must not copy – plagiarism software used. Subject teachers and tutors.
  25. COMPLETING THE APPLICATION
  26. Completing the application Student must click on ‘section completed’ for all 5 sections. Once they are all completed there will be the option to ‘send to referee’ – this sends the application to the sixth form mentor not UCAS. At this point payment needs to be made – the cost is £22. Payment is made online before the application is sent to UCAS. Student must make an appointment with their mentor who will check the application form and prepare the reference.
  27. REFERENCE
  28. The reference… This will be written by student’s sixth form mentor. Subject teachers will contribute to this reference. We will not lie in the reference but we can make insignificant things sound exciting. 4000 characters and 47 lines. Student and parents can see the reference before it is sent to UCAS. The reference takes time – need to allow at least 5 days for completion.
  29. Finalising the reference… All references are read and checked by Ms Morgan, Mr Matthews or Mrs Oscrocft before they are pasted onto UCAS application. A reference will NOT be used unless EVERYONE is happy with it.
  30. Predicted grades… Predicted grades given for all PENDING qualifications. Ms Morgan, Mr Matthews and Mrs Oscroft decide on predicted grades, in negotiation with the student. They are based on AS results, target grades and course choice. We try to be as generous as possible, but we will not OVER predict.
  31. Sending the application Student section completed Reference section completed Application is SENT to UCAS Students then receive welcome letter from UCAS and a log in for TRACK.
  32. INTERVIEWS AND TESTS
  33. Interviews… Some courses require an interview with the student before making them an offer: Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science Oxford and Cambridge Teaching Nursing/midwifery/physiotherapy Very competitive courses, e.g. law
  34. Admissions tests… Some courses require students to take admissions tests before offers are made. These can be taken during the interview or prior to interview. Examples: Many courses at Oxford and Cambridge BMAT and UKCAT for Medicine/dentistry/Vet LNAT for Law courses TSA for politics courses at Oxford/UCL STEP for Mathematics at Warwick
  35. OFFERS
  36. Offers… Decisions sent by universities: Conditional offer – means that the university or college will offer you a place if you meet certain conditions, which are usually based on your exams. Unconditional offer - means that you have met all the academic requirements and the university or college is happy to accept you. Withdrawn - A choice can be withdrawn by the student or the university or college. Unsuccessful application - means that the university or college has decided not to offer the student a place on the course.
  37. Responding to offers… Once all 5 decisions have been made, students can select 2 offers: FIRM – this your first choice - this is your preferred choice out of all the offers you have received. You can only have one firm acceptance. INSURANCE - If your firm choice is a conditional offer, you can accept another offer as an insurance choice. Your insurance choice acts as a back-up, so if you don't meet the conditions for your firm choice but meet the conditions for your insurance, you will be committed to the insurance choice. You can only have one insurance choice. DECLINE - Once you have decided which offer to accept firmly, and which (if any) to accept as an insurance, you must decline all other offers. If you don't want to accept any of the offers, you can decline them all.
  38. FINANCE
  39. Tuition fees and costs… £9,000 Up to: Student accommodation - £3000-£6000 a year Living costs - £2500-£3000 a year Per year 2012-2013 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/tuition-fees
  40. Sources of income… 1. Student Loans (Tuition Fee Loans and Living Cost Loans) 2. Living Cost Grants and Bursaries 3. Part time employment. 4. Money from parents!!!!
  41. Financial support…. www.direct.gov.uk
  42. Tuition and Living Cost Loans TUITION FEE LOANS: up to £9,000 if you’re a new full-time student LIVING COSTS LOANS: £5,500 if you live away from home and study at a university or college outside London £7,675 if you live away from home and study at a university or college in London £4,375 if you live at home
  43. Repayment of student loans Full-time and part-time students start repaying their student loans from April 2016, if they earn over £21,000. If you earn less than £21,000 you don’t make any repayments. Once you earn over £21,000 you pay nine per cent of your income above £21,000. So if your salary is £25,000, you pay nine per cent of £4,000 which is £30 a month.
  44. Living costs grants… You don’t have to pay grants back. In 2012/13 full-time students can apply for: a full grant of £3,250 if your household income is £25,000 or under a partial grant if your household income is between £25,000 and £42,600
  45. Applying for finance… Apply online at www.direct.gov.uk In the past applications have opened in February but it is likely to be earlier this year. Income assessed – parents provide financial information in order to apply for grants. Non-income assessed – no financial information provided, but no grants available.
  46. NHS bursaries These are available for many vocational health care courses (e.g. nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy). NHS bursaries do not have to be repaid.
  47. National Scholarship Programme Many colleges and universities also offer scholarships. Availability can be based on a range of factors - such as your A level grades, the subjects studied, or where you live. Look at the university website to find out about available scholarships.
  48. RESULTS DAY
  49. Results Day… 16thAUGUST 2012 Results usually available at school from 10.00am UCAS Track usually updated at midnight Student met firm or insurance offer exactly – there is no need to do anything. If results do not support firm or insurance offer – CLEARING. If results better than firm or insurance offer – ADJUSTMENT.
  50. Clearing… Eligible students will receive a clearing number on Track. Check vacancies on UCAS website. Contact universities directly to ask for a place based on exam results. This can take considerable time. Accept an offer by adding to Track. Place is confirmed in writing.
  51. Adjustment… Eligibility to use Adjustment: results must have met and exceeded the conditions of the conditional firm (CF) choice. Adjustment period = 16thto 31st August Register in Track by clicking on 'Register for Adjustment‘. Contact a university or college to find another place. If a student is accepted through Adjustment, the Track screen will be updated with the new choice and the student will be sent a confirmation letter.
  52. WHAT NEXT?
  53. Important Dates… 24th June – assembly for all year 12 students 30th June – student UCAS preparation day 22nd July – complete first draft of personal statement Mid-September – applications accepted by UCAS 15thOctober – deadline for early applications 21st October – deadline for Denbigh applications to be sent 15th January – deadline for all other courses
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